Discrimination in Great Britain: A History of Perpetuation
By Raiaab Ajmal and Leena Mohammed, 7/8/2020
History & Ethnicity: The Minority Situation
**Please note that all language in this article is designed to provide context to ongoing discrimination, and we ask that all readers understand that certain included words are highly offensive when used.**
With a total population of approximately 67,886,011 inhabitants spanning 18 ethnic groups, Britain has become increasingly diverse within the past few decades. This social integration of several different races, castes and ideologies has led to cultural and societal change, most notably discrimination.
Not only does discrimination lead to seclusion and cultural divisions within society, but it may also open a portal to physical and mental abuse. Two prominent ethnic minorities in Britain are the “Black British people” and “Pakistanis.” The Black British people are of either black African descent or of black African-Caribbean ancestry. The Pakistani individuals hail from different regions of Pakistan, with many originating from Azad Jammu, Kashmir and Punjab.
Evidence of a Black population in Great Britain dates back to Roman Britain. Following the Second World War, many people of African descent settled in Britain from the Caribbean and West Africa as wartime workers, merchant seamen, and servicemen from the army, navy, and air forces. The number of blacks in Britain notably increased when more than a quarter-million residents of the West Indies immigrated to Britain. Many Pakistani nationals migrated to Britain after the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. Many of these individuals were secondary immigrants who had first migrated from India to Pakistan. These numbers increased in the 1950s after the construction of the Mangla Dam in Kashmir, which destroyed 250 villages.
According to a 2011 Census, 3.3% of the British population (England and Wales) are Black British citizens, with 1.8% Approximately 7.5% of Britain's population is Asian. Within this Asian ethnic group, 5.3% are of Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Indian descent. Thus, people from this group are classified as the second-largest ethnic minority population in the United Kingdom and make up the second-largest subgroup of British Asians.
Discrimination against these two groups is evident throughout Britain, and these two ethnic minorities have been subjected to racial violence and abuse. Verbal assault is not uncommon, where derogatory racial slurs are used against individuals. “Nigger” and “Paki” are widespread examples of this verbal degradation. Both these ethnic slurs have a long and intense history and are commonly associated with oppression and racial discrimination against both ethnic minorities. The “n-word” would often be used to degrade, chastise and dehumanise African American slaves in the 19th century; the word itself is tied to years of slavery and torture the African slaves had to experience. In the 1960s-1970s, violent attacks against South Asians were carried out by far-right fascist and racist anti-immigrant movements, such as the National Front and BNP. These attackers were called “P***-bashers,” and were backed by anti-immigrant British media. Support from the xenophobic British media slowly increased the prominence of this racial slur.
According to a survey conducted by The Guardian, 38% of individuals from ethnic minorities were falsely branded of shoplifting, with black and white women being more likely to be suspected. While 53% of these survey-takers believed they were discriminated against based on their attire and appearance. Between 2014-16, the incomes of Pakistani families was £9,000 less than white British households, while for black households it was £5,500.
Despite making up only 3% of the population of England and Wales, Balck individuals make up 12% of the prison population, while no police officer has been prosecuted for murdering any black individual since 1971. According to a 2017 report centered around the treatment of, and outcomes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals in the criminal justice system, Pakistani individuals in the prison system-91.4% Muslim-, feel that they are more vulnerable to violence and oppression than their fellow inmates. There has also been an unfortunate trend of under-representation of ethnic minorities in the politics of the UK, with an average of 3% representation in local councils, and 155 ethnic minority MPs were elected in the 2019 elections. Although the numbers have grown, the proportion of MPs from ethnic minorities is lower than the UK’s population as a whole.
With a total population of approximately 67,886,011 inhabitants spanning 18 ethnic groups, Britain has become increasingly diverse within the past few decades. This social integration of several different races, castes and ideologies has led to cultural and societal change, most notably discrimination.
Not only does discrimination lead to seclusion and cultural divisions within society, but it may also open a portal to physical and mental abuse. Two prominent ethnic minorities in Britain are the “Black British people” and “Pakistanis.” The Black British people are of either black African descent or of black African-Caribbean ancestry. The Pakistani individuals hail from different regions of Pakistan, with many originating from Azad Jammu, Kashmir and Punjab.
Evidence of a Black population in Great Britain dates back to Roman Britain. Following the Second World War, many people of African descent settled in Britain from the Caribbean and West Africa as wartime workers, merchant seamen, and servicemen from the army, navy, and air forces. The number of blacks in Britain notably increased when more than a quarter-million residents of the West Indies immigrated to Britain. Many Pakistani nationals migrated to Britain after the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. Many of these individuals were secondary immigrants who had first migrated from India to Pakistan. These numbers increased in the 1950s after the construction of the Mangla Dam in Kashmir, which destroyed 250 villages.
According to a 2011 Census, 3.3% of the British population (England and Wales) are Black British citizens, with 1.8% Approximately 7.5% of Britain's population is Asian. Within this Asian ethnic group, 5.3% are of Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Indian descent. Thus, people from this group are classified as the second-largest ethnic minority population in the United Kingdom and make up the second-largest subgroup of British Asians.
Discrimination against these two groups is evident throughout Britain, and these two ethnic minorities have been subjected to racial violence and abuse. Verbal assault is not uncommon, where derogatory racial slurs are used against individuals. “Nigger” and “Paki” are widespread examples of this verbal degradation. Both these ethnic slurs have a long and intense history and are commonly associated with oppression and racial discrimination against both ethnic minorities. The “n-word” would often be used to degrade, chastise and dehumanise African American slaves in the 19th century; the word itself is tied to years of slavery and torture the African slaves had to experience. In the 1960s-1970s, violent attacks against South Asians were carried out by far-right fascist and racist anti-immigrant movements, such as the National Front and BNP. These attackers were called “P***-bashers,” and were backed by anti-immigrant British media. Support from the xenophobic British media slowly increased the prominence of this racial slur.
According to a survey conducted by The Guardian, 38% of individuals from ethnic minorities were falsely branded of shoplifting, with black and white women being more likely to be suspected. While 53% of these survey-takers believed they were discriminated against based on their attire and appearance. Between 2014-16, the incomes of Pakistani families was £9,000 less than white British households, while for black households it was £5,500.
Despite making up only 3% of the population of England and Wales, Balck individuals make up 12% of the prison population, while no police officer has been prosecuted for murdering any black individual since 1971. According to a 2017 report centered around the treatment of, and outcomes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals in the criminal justice system, Pakistani individuals in the prison system-91.4% Muslim-, feel that they are more vulnerable to violence and oppression than their fellow inmates. There has also been an unfortunate trend of under-representation of ethnic minorities in the politics of the UK, with an average of 3% representation in local councils, and 155 ethnic minority MPs were elected in the 2019 elections. Although the numbers have grown, the proportion of MPs from ethnic minorities is lower than the UK’s population as a whole.
Discrimination in Education & the Workplace
In June of 2019, British officials found the body of Shukri Abdi, a 12-year-old Somali immigrant in a river in Manchester, United Kingdom. Unidentified bullies drowned her to death. Given the British children have such prejudice against individuals that they resort to murder shows that racism is taught and observed.
The workforce is one area where discrimination against such minorities is prominent. A recent study analyzed prejudice amongst employers by giving a group of Caucasians, Blacks and Asians the same application and resumé. The study showed that only 15% of ethnic minorities in Britain receive a positive response from employers when applying for a job. This low percentage is a stark contrast from the 25% of Caucasians receiving callbacks, despite having similar resumés.
The workforce is one area where discrimination against such minorities is prominent. A recent study analyzed prejudice amongst employers by giving a group of Caucasians, Blacks and Asians the same application and resumé. The study showed that only 15% of ethnic minorities in Britain receive a positive response from employers when applying for a job. This low percentage is a stark contrast from the 25% of Caucasians receiving callbacks, despite having similar resumés.
Source: GEMM Project
Discrimination is perpetuated from the uninformed education of youth that invite such prejudices. The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) launched investigations and explained that Black and Minority Ethnic groups (BME) are underrepresented in the teaching profession, and receive lower wages than their white counterparts. The educational system also discriminates against students of minority backgrounds. There also seems to be a large issue with the British curriculum and the way that certain events are taught. Pakistani members of the community are upset by the way that the British syllabus does not address the UK occupation of Pakistan and the enslavement of Pakistani people. Meanwhile, Blacks are concerned by the way that slavery is taught in such a way that only Americans are to blame for the slave trade.
Outside of institutions and workplaces, the streets of UK cities are one of the most dangerous places for a BME person to be. "I recognise that there is a disproportionate number of young black males that are getting stabbed and unfortunately being killed," Nicholas Davies, a London police chief superintendent reports. Clearly, with discrimination in school and from employers, more and more BME (Black and minority ethnic) people find themselves in the streets and other dangerous situations. Unfortunately, the most targeted group seems to be young Black men. Davies also comments, "The gangs don't necessarily follow racial groups, some can be very multicultural, but as a rule we're finding the biggest threat to a young black male is indeed a young black male." Davies believes that the Black community in Britain is turning on itself because of racial struggles, which just contributes to a more divided community.
Many point their fingers at the Caucasian community for these issues. However, the issue lies deeper than just whites discriminating against other ethnic groups. In 2015, a 14-year-old Pakistani student stabbed his black teacher, and called him racial slurs in Bradford. On another occasion, three African men stabbed a Pakistani man to death in the streets of Oldham. This event led to discussions amongst ethnic communities about their own prejudices against each other. The fact of the matter is that ethnic communities cannot expect discrimination from white people to stop if they themselves are racist towards each other. There is no longer a sense of unity between communities, which could potentially be the downfall of minority communities in Britain.
Outside of institutions and workplaces, the streets of UK cities are one of the most dangerous places for a BME person to be. "I recognise that there is a disproportionate number of young black males that are getting stabbed and unfortunately being killed," Nicholas Davies, a London police chief superintendent reports. Clearly, with discrimination in school and from employers, more and more BME (Black and minority ethnic) people find themselves in the streets and other dangerous situations. Unfortunately, the most targeted group seems to be young Black men. Davies also comments, "The gangs don't necessarily follow racial groups, some can be very multicultural, but as a rule we're finding the biggest threat to a young black male is indeed a young black male." Davies believes that the Black community in Britain is turning on itself because of racial struggles, which just contributes to a more divided community.
Many point their fingers at the Caucasian community for these issues. However, the issue lies deeper than just whites discriminating against other ethnic groups. In 2015, a 14-year-old Pakistani student stabbed his black teacher, and called him racial slurs in Bradford. On another occasion, three African men stabbed a Pakistani man to death in the streets of Oldham. This event led to discussions amongst ethnic communities about their own prejudices against each other. The fact of the matter is that ethnic communities cannot expect discrimination from white people to stop if they themselves are racist towards each other. There is no longer a sense of unity between communities, which could potentially be the downfall of minority communities in Britain.